My number one criterion for choosing a rose is its fragrance. Of the 30 different roses I have, I think Intrigue has the best fragrance. Unfortunately, it is also by far the most disease- and mite-susceptible plant I own.

Electron is a wonderful rose. It is disease free, even in foggy San Francisco, and the most floriferous rose in my five year old garden. When the buds first open, they are a wonderful electric pink. The blooms fade with time, but remain bright. If the weather remains overcast with a few days of sunshine sprinkled in, the blooms will last as long as six weeks for me! The only rose I have that compares, for longevity of blooms, is Tournament of Roses; also pink, but a much softer, pastel shade.

The specimen that I have is a tree rose variety and this year's second flush gave me almost four dozen blooms! The buds from the second flush started opening in mid-June and about three dozen still remain on the tree. There would be more if I had not cut a half dozen to make a mixed bouquet. As a cut flower, they are also long lasting, but nothing as amazing as when left on the plant. This is a great rose and I plan to get another, to try in a pot.